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WASHINGTON'S 



OPINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS 



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WASHINGTON'S 
OPINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS 



THIS valuable and curious document, now for the first time printed, 
is the property of the State of New York, and is included among 
the treasures of the State Library at Albany. It is one of a num- 
ber of memorial relics of Washington purchased by Act of the Legislature 
passed April 26, 1871, from Mrs. Ella Bassett Washington, the widow of 
Col. Lewis W. Washington, who was the sole surviving son of George 
Custis Washington, who was the son of William Augustine Washington, 
the eldest of the five nephews of Washington. This memorandum was 
uninterruptedly in the possession of the Washington family until its 
purchase by the State of New York. 

This paper was prepared by Washington in the winter of 1 791-2, 
after the defeat of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, by the Indians, in the autumn of 
1790, near the Miami, in Ohio, and in anticipation of the necessity of the 
appointment of some one to succeed him in the command of the army. 
It was intended to serve as a memorandum of the various characters 
and claims to the office, of the Generals of the revolution then living, both 
for his personal use and for the deliberations in council with his cabinet. 
As the result of these deliberations, Gen. Anthony Wa)'ne was 
appointed St. Clair's successor in April, 1792, and Otho H. Williams and 
Rufus Putnam, First, and John Brooks and James Wilkinson, Second 
Brigadier Generals. Twenty-three officers are mentioned in the series, 
and Washington gives his opinion of the qualifications of sixteen of them 
for the office in question, viz.: of Generals Lincoln, Steuben, Moultrie, 
Mcintosh, Wayne, Weedon, Hand, Scott, Huntington, Wilkinson, Gist, 
Irvine, Morgan, Putnam, Pinckney and Gov. H. Lee. 

The paper is not signed, but is entirely in the autograph of Wash- 
ington. It bears an earlv endorsement which will serve for its title. 



2 WASHINGTON'S OPINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS 

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S OPINION OF THE FIELD OFFICERS- 
OF THE REVOLUTION ALIVE IN 1 79 1 

The following list contain the names of all the General officers now 
living & in this country, as low as actual Brigadiers inclusively. — 
Except those who it is conjectured would not, from age, want of 
health — & other circumstances, come forward b} r any inducements that 
could be offered to them — & such as ought not to be named for the 
important trust of Commander in Chief. 

MAJOR GENERAL LINCOLN. 

Sober, honest, brave and sensible, but infirm, past the vigor of life — & 
reluctantly (if offered to him) would accept the appointment. — 

MAJR GENERAL BARON DE STEUBEN. 

Sensible, sober & brave, well acquainted with Tactics & with the 
arrangement & discipline of an army. — High in his ideas of Subordina- 
tion — impetuous in his temper — ambitious— and a foreigner. — 

MAJOR GENERAL MOULTRIE. 

Brave,- cS: it is believed accomodating in his temper — Served the whole 
of last war ; & has been an officer in the preceeding one, at least had 
been engaged in an Expedition against the Cherokees ; having defeated 
them in one or two considerable actions. — What the resources, or 
powers of his mind are — how active he may be, and whether temperate 
or not, are points I cannot speak to with decision, because I have had 
little or no opportunities to form an opinion of him. — 

BRIGADIER (BUT BY BREVET MAJR GENERAL) MCINTOSH. 

Is old and inactive ; — supposed to be honest and brave. — Not much 
known in the Union, and therefore would not obtain much confidence, 
or command much respect ; — either in the community or the army. 

MAJR GENERAL (BY BREVET) WAYNE. 

More active & enterprising than Judicious & cautious. — No ceconomist 
it is feared: — open to flattery — vain — easily imposed upon and liable to 
be drawn into scrapes. Too indulgent (the effect perhaps of some of 
the causes just mentioned) to his Officers and men. — Whether sober — 
or a little addicted to the bottle, I know not. 

P. 



WASHINGTON'S OPINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS 3 

MAJR GENERAL (BY BREVET) WEEDON. 

Not supposed to be an Officer of much resource, though not deficient of 
a competent share of understanding — rather addicted to ease & pleasure 
— & no enemy it is said to the bottle — never has had his name brot. 
forward on this acct. 

MAJOR GENERAL (BY BREVET) HAND. 

A sensible & judicious man; — his integrity unimpeached ; — and was 
esteemed a pretty good officer. — But if I recollect rightly, not a very 
active one. — He has never been charged with intemperance to my 
knowledge ; — His name has rarely been mentioned under the present 
difficulty of chusirig an officer to coram'd, but this may, in a great 
measure be owing to his being at a distance. — 

MAJR GENERAL (BY BREVET) SCOTT. 

Brave & means well ; but is an officer of inadequate abilities for 
•extensive command ; — &, by report, is addicted to drinking. — 

MAJR GENERAL (BY BREVET) HUNTINGTON. 

Sober, sensible and very discreet. — Has never discover'd much enter- 
prise ; yet, no doubt has ever been entertained "of his want of spirit, or 
firmness. 



BRIGADIER GENERAL WILKENSON. 



Is, by brevet Senr. to those whose names follow — but the appointment to 
this rank was merely honorary, — and as he was but a short time in 
service, little can be said of his abilities as an Officer. — He is lively, 
sensible, pompous and ambitious, but whether sober or not, is unknown 
to me. 

BRIGADIER GENERAL GIST. 

Little has been said of his qualifications as a General Officer — His 
activity & attention to duty is somewhat doubtful, tho' his spirit, I 
believe, is unimpeached. — 

BRIGADIER GENERAL IRVINE 

Is sober, tolerably sensible and prudent. It is said he is an ceconomist; 



4 WASHINGTON S OPINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS 

and supported his authority whilst he was entrusted with a seperate 
command ; but I have no recollection of any circumstance that marks 
him as a decidedly good, or indifferent officr. 

BRIGADIER GENERAL MORGAN. — 

Has been fortunate, & has met with eclat. — Yet there are different 
opinions with respect to his abilities as an Officer. — He is accused of 
using improper means to obtain certificates from the soldiers — It is said 
he has been (if the case is not so now) intemperate : that he is troubled 
with a palpitation which often lays him up ; and it is not denied that he 
is illiterate. 

BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAMS. — 

Is a sensible man, but not without vanity. No doubt, I believe, is 
entertained of his firmness : — and it is thought he does not want activity 
— but it is not easy, where there is nothing conspicuous in a character,, 
to pronounce decidedly upon a Military man who has always acted 
under the immediate orders of a superior officer, unless he had been seen 
frequently in action. — The discipline, interior oeconomy and police of his 
Corps is the best evidence one can have of his talents in this line, and 
of this, in the case of Genl Williams I can say nothing ; as he was 
appointed a Brigadier after he left the Northern to join the Southern 
army. — But a material objection to him is delicate health (if there has 
been no change in his constitution), — for he has gone to the Sweet Springs 
two or three years sucessively in such bad health as to afford little hope 
of his ever returning from them. 

BRIGADIER GENERAL RUFUS PUTNAM. — 

Possesses a strong mind — and is a discreet man. — No question has ever 
been made (that has come to my knowledge) of his want of firmness.. 
In short, there is nothing conspicuous in his character — and he is but 
little known out of his own state, and a narrow circle. 

BRIGADIER GENL (BY BREVET) PINCKNEV. — 

A Colonel since Septr. 16th, 1776; but appointed a Brigadr. by brevet, 
at the close of the War, only. — In this Gentleman many valuable qualities 
are to be found. — He is of unquestionable bravery — Is a man of strict 
honor, erudition & good sense : and it is said has made Tactics a study — 
But what his spirit for enterprise is — whether active or indolent ; — or 



WASHINGTON'S GTINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS 5 

fitted for arrangement, I am unable to say — never having had any 
opportunity to form a judgment of his talents as a military character. — 
The capture of Charleston put an end to his military services : but his 
Junr. Rank, and being little known in this part of the Union, are the two 
considerations most opposed to him, — particularly the latter, as it is 
more than probable his being a prisoner prevented his promotion : 
which ought not to be any bar to his ranking as a Brigadier from the 
time that others of his standing as a Colonel, were promoted. 

The above and foregoing closes the list of all the General Officers 
who as has been observed from age — want of health — disinclination, or 
peculiar circumstances, can be brought into view ; from whom to chuse 
an officer to command the Troops of the U. S. 

If from either of the three Major Generals, which have been mentioned ; 
— or from those made so by brevet, the Commander of the Troops should be 
taken, no Junior Officer can decline serving on the score of Rank ; 
although he may desire, and have had expectations of being — first in 
command — himself. 

Under this idea, and upon the principle of distribution, the arrange- 
ment of the Commanding officer, and those next in grade to him, may 
be placed in the following points of view. 

Commander. 

Lincoln .... or Moultrie. 

Under either of these Major Generals might serve as Brigadiers. 

Wayne .... unless by being a Majr. Genl. by brevet & seeking 
the command himself he should recoil at it. 

Morgan . . . ( for one of the above reasons would also revolt 
( viz — command or Williams or Darke. 

Wilkinson 

* Pickens 

* Brooks 

* If Lincoln commands, Brooks cannot be appointed : and if Moul- 
tree commands the same will happn to Pickens. 

If Pennsylvania gives the Commanding Officer and he is of the Rank 
(by brevet) of Majr Generl; the above arrangement is equally applicable 
on the principle of distribution, & as unexceptionable on the score of 
rank. But if, in the first case, Wayne, Morgan and Williams refuse to 



6 WASHINGTON S OPINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS 

serve, and in the second, the two last do it, unless it be as Commander, — 
then some others Junr. in dates of Commission, or of inferior rank, 
must be resorted to. 

If upon a full view of characters, and circumstances, General Pinck- 
ney should be deemed the most eligable for the command, it would be a 
fruitless attempt, & a waste of time to propose to those officers who 
have been his seniors, to engage again subordinately ; especially if they 
have been his seniors in the line of Colonels: and here I would draw a 
line which I think is a just one — and that is — that his Colonel's, & not 
his Brigad'rs Commission, ought to decide his Rank as a Generl Officer, 
because it would be hard upon him to suffer in it, on acc't of his captivity ; 
when motives of policy and not demerit suspended (as may fairly be 
presumed) his promotion during that period : — but why, when it did 
take place, Rank was not (to a certain antecedent date) restor'd, I am 
unable to conceive. 

If this be fair reasoning (and I really think it is), neither Morgan nor 
Williams would have ground to object against serving under Pinckney : 
but as it is more than probable they will look to what is, rather than to 
what ought to be; a difficulty would be made on the subject of Rank — 
especially if there is any dereliction in them to the service in any other 
character than that of commanding it — and therefore it would be expe- 
dient perhaps to look for officers of Junr Rank, — & in that case may 
come in as ... . 

Brigadiers. 

Wilkenson, whose rank is very questionable 

Darke — or Howard 

Willet — or Smith 

Brooks. 

If Governor Lee should be prefered to the command, then Officers 
of lower grades than any that have been mentioned in the preceeding 
pages must be sought after, as all of those are greatly his seniors — & 
their being, in my opinion but little ground to hope, that either the 
military talents which he has displayed in the course of the War, or his 
present dignified station, would reconcile any of them to act a subordinate 
part, except it be Wilkenson, who, as has been observed before, from hav- 
ing been but a short time in service, & quitting it at an early period of the 



WASHINGTON S OPINION OF HIS GENERAL OFFICERS / 

war, would have but little or no cause to complain. — As also Pickins, 
who has never been in the Continental line. — The arrangement w'd 
then be, in this case. — 

Govr. Lee — Commander 
Brigadrs. 

WlLKENSON 

Pickens 



The authorities for the following brief biographical memoranda are 
Drake's Dictionary of American Biography and Gardner's Dictionary 
of the Army of the United States. The memoranda of the officers are 
given in the order of their mention in the document. 

Major Generals. — Benjamin Lincoln, born at Hingham, Massachu- 
setts, 23 January, 1733; died there, 9 May, 1S10. Baron Frederick 
William Augustus Steuben, born at Magdeburg, Prussia, 15 November, 
1730; died at Steubenville, New York, 26 November, 1794. William 
Moultrie, born South Carolina, 1731 ; died at Charleston, South Carolina, 
27 September, 1805. Lachlan Mcintosh, born near Inverness, Scotland, 
17 March, 1725 ; died at Savannah, 20 February, 1806. Anthony Wayne, 
born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1 January, 1745 ; died at Presqu' 
Isle, 15 December, 1796. George Weedon, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; 
date of birth and death unknown. Edward Hand, born at Clyduff, 
Kings County, Ireland, 31 December, 1744; died at Rockford, Lancas- 
ter County, Pennsylvania, 3 September, 1802. Charles Scott, born in 
Cumberland County, Virginia, 1733; died 22 October, 1820. Ebenezer 
Huntington, born at Norwich, Connecticut, 26 December, 1754; died 
there 17 June, 1834. 

Brigadier Generals. — James Wilkinson, born near Benedict, 
Maryland, 1757; died near Mexico City, 28 December, 1825. Mordecai 
Gist, born at Baltimore, Maryland, 1743; died at Charleston, South 
Carolina, 2 September, 1792. William Irvine, born at Fermagh, Ireland, 
3 November, 1741 ; died at Philadelphia, 29 July, 1804. Daniel Morgan, 
born at Hunterdon County, New Jersey, 1736; died at Winchester, 
Virginia, 6 July, 1802. Otho Holland Williams, born in Prince George 
County, Maryland, 1749: died, 16 July, 1794. Rufus Putnam, born at 
Sutton, Massachusetts, 9 April, 1738; died at Marietta, Ohio, 4 May, 
1824. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, born at Charleston, South Caro- 
lina, 25 February, 1746; died there, 16 August, 1825. 



8 Washington's opinion of his general officers 

Colonels. — William Darke, born in Philadelphia County, Pennsyl- 
vania, 1736; died in Jefferson County, Virginia, 26 November, 1S01. 
Andrew Pickens, born at Paxton, Bucks Count) - , Pennsylvania, 13 Sep- 
tember, 1739; died in Pendleton District, South Carolina, 1817. John 
Brooks, born at Medford, Massachusetts, 1752; died 1825. John Eager 
Howard, born in Baltimore County, Maryland, 4 June, 1752; died there, 
12 October, 1827. Marinus Willett, born at Jamaica, Long Island, 31 
July, 1740; died in New York City, 22 August, 1830. William Stephens 
Smith, born, New York, 1755; died at Lebanon, New York, 10 June, 
1816. 

The Governor Lee referred to was Henry Lee, Governor of Virginia, 
1791-1794, born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, 29 January, 1756; 
died at Cumberland Island, Georgia, 25 March, 1S18. 



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